defense
dih-FEHNS
Also spelled defence (UK spelling)
Defense (noun) means the action of protecting someone or something from attack or harm. Example: “The small animal has few natural defenses against a hungry fox.”
noun
1
The action of protecting someone or something from attack or harm.
"The small animal has few natural defenses against a hungry fox."
"The nation increased spending on defense."
"He raised his arms in self-defense."
2
In sport, the players or tactics focused on stopping the opposing team from scoring.
"Our defense held firm for the whole second half and kept a clean sheet."
"The coach spent the training session drilling the defense on marking tight."
"The defense forced three turnovers in the first quarter."
3
In law, the case or team presenting arguments on behalf of the accused.
"The defense called a character witness to speak on behalf of the accused."
"Her defense argued that the evidence had been collected unfairly."
"The defense rested its case after two witnesses."
How to use defense
Learner’s notes
UK vs US
American English spells this "defense"; British English uses "defence." Both are pronounced identically.
Common pairings
self-defense
defense attorney
national defense
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Word forms
- Plural
- defenses
- Third person singular
- defenses
- Past tense
- defensed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The small animal has few natural _____ against a hungry fox.
Etymology
From Old French defens/defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa ("protection").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for defense
See all rhymes for defense →Frequently asked questions
What does “defense” mean?
The word “defense” means the action of protecting someone or something from attack or harm.
How do you pronounce “defense”?
“Defense” is pronounced dih-FEHNS (/dɪˈfɛns/ in IPA).
How do you use “defense” in a sentence?
Here is “defense” used in a sentence: “The nation increased spending on defense.”
What is another word for “defense”?
Words with a similar meaning to “defense” include defence, fortification, guard, preservation, protection and safeguard.
What is the opposite of “defense”?
The opposite of “defense” — its antonyms — are offense, prosecution and attack.
What part of speech is “defense”?
“Defense” is a noun.
Where does the word “defense” come from?
The word “defense” comes from Late Latin. From Old French defens/defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa ("protection").
Is “defense” a common word?
“Defense” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'defense' and 'defence'?
They are the same word with the same meaning; only the spelling differs. 'Defense' is the American spelling, while 'defence' is standard in British, Australian, and other Commonwealth English. Choose one to match your audience and stay consistent. The related adjective 'defensive' is spelled with an 's' in both varieties.
What is the opposite of defense?
The main opposite is 'offense' (or 'offence'), meaning attack rather than protection. In sports, the offense tries to score while the defense tries to stop them. Other antonyms include 'attack', 'assault', and 'aggression'. Which fits best depends on whether you mean a game, a battle, or a general contrast.
What are the different types of defense?
The word covers several fields. Military defense means protecting a country from attack. Self-defense is protecting yourself from harm. In sport, defense is stopping opponents from scoring. In law, the defense is the case argued on behalf of an accused person. Each shares the core idea of guarding against a threat.
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